💦Chapter 1💦

Don't be upset when there's a detour on your way to destiny. Keep a good attitude and it will work out~Joel Osteen.

New York City ,USA.

My dream ended abruptly as I was shaken back to reality.I wake up as if it's an emergency,as if sleeping had become a dangerous, almost lethal thing to do.My heart beats faster,I can feel my head buzz together with panic as my eyes lock with the clock at my bedside.The clock that was in fact supposed to be waking me up.It didn't!I was late,so pissed off by the stupid old alarm but instead of getting frustrated by it: I had to stop farting around.

I launched out of bed in panic,my hair as usual looking like a confused bird nest.I was about to skip a shower but a reminder of my workline dreaded me from doing it.The running up and down serving customers and handling of food didn't seem appropriate. It isn't Rina.

I rub the sleep out of my eyes really fighting back the aching urge to retreat back to the comfy bed. Why is sleep always so sweet in the morning?

Taking the fastest shower of my entire existence with my breakfast being skipped.

Here I am. 15 minutes to be late. Time seems to not be my side.

What a way to convince my boss that I am a competent employee. Competent huh?

I got to escape his wrath the first time but how was I going to convince him the second time?

I am not a morning person? Aah no, that's way not appropriate. I had a massive headache? That's tempting but na-ah, what if I really get ill and besides I already used that excuse for last time.

Traffic? Bingo! I can go with that. Everyone blames traffic. Why not me?

I tie my hair up in a loose messy bun. Already made up my mind on pushing through with the hurtless lie. I put on the only dress I have in my closet, which was also the one I had first set my eyes on. I match with white rubber shoes, quickly doing the laces .

I am too late for make up that I just pick my leather strap bag and match out after locking the door , dropping the key safely inside the bag, making sure it actually hit the bottom of the bag and not the ground like last time. Better safe than sorry. I was damn sorry last time when it actually didn't hit the bag but who knows where.

No matter the hurry, always keep the key safe. A rule I intended to keep wholeheartedly and strictly religious since the day I ended up paying a huge amount to the grumpy landlord for bringing his door down. A simple reminder of that incident just makes a painful bile rise up my throat. My hard earned cash through sweat,tears and unfortunate times ,blood. Wasted it .just .like that.

It hit a bloody nerve.

Luckily, I work at a small restaurant a few blocks away and so I could save on bus fare and time. Oh,how bad I wish I could fly today with the distance seeming so far than usual.

I am surely going to be fired today. I can feel the gnawing in my gastrointestinal tract and this was not due to hunger but panick! I try to brush it off, urging myself to relax.

Take a huge breath in Rina and out, aah. Good . You got this.

I was about to cross the pedestrian lane when I was stopped by a loud screech. Definitely a car's.

I died. Not really.

I screamed. The loudest scream that would definitely make me wince and cringe when I hear it for a second time.

That was definitely the day I heard my heart beat,loud!

I was trans-fixed rooted on the ground an attempt to move even a muscle being fruitless. The only thing left being to block my face with my arms awaiting for the impact that would lent me paralyse or dead. Which one was worse?

I dreaded for both.

After several long agonising seconds of silence, awaiting for an impact that luckily didn't come. Luck was by my side it seems.

I open my eyes,my eyelashes faintly batting against my lids when I blinked. My muscles felt weak just like my energy. I let out an exasperated sigh. For the first time in life appreciating even the simplest sigh.

A cold sweat washed over my face and chest- heart trying to escape through my throat the first chance it could get.

I took my time to place a shaky hand on my chest , holding the other to my knees maybe for support as they were shaking terribly. I dared to still stand at the same spot. Shutting my eyes for a second and eventually opening them to send the deadliest glare to the person behind it all and that, wasn't me but the man inside the tinted car.

In all it's glory,a black Mercedes stopped before me. The car was spotless clean, beautiful and looked like many years of my salary summed up to have it but that ladies and gents was far in the deepest depth of my mind. The only thing I could see before me was a dangerous tool that was almost to cause my downfall.

That's why I will never own a car. Not because I don't know how to drive- well, that's true but strongly because. I was scared of driving. I was scared to die.

I continuously failed on my driving classes. Not able to own a license after numerous times of giving the poor tutor a heart attack making him give up calling me a clumsy fool.

What if today was one of those unlucky days and I shouldn't at all have gotten out of my house. I should start reading my horoscope. It might come in handy in such times. I understand now why Niaka always reads hers.

"Hey you!Do you want to kill me? What's wrong with those stupid things you call eyes huh?!"I scream pointing my finger at the tinted window screen although I could barely see a thing.

I was angry. Furious. Going berserk. All I felt like doing was to wrap my hands round the victim's neck and strang-

"I can sue you for this you know,it's what we call attempted murder!"By now I was starting to attract a massive crowd all eager for a priceless show. That,it looked I was ready to give but in the process. Forgetting I was late for work. Dimwit!

.

"Who will you sue? Me...you might be joking darling."a deep husky voice said.

I looked at the man infront of me who had just emerged out of his car.

As clichè as it may sound, but on seeing him.... believe me when I say, my whole world froze! All the courage I had; thrown out through the window just like that. Unfair.

He had the kind of face that could stop you at your tracks. I guess he must be used to that: the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they look his was,followed by a nonchalant gaze.

He had a prominent sharp jaw skillfully curved and the strength of his neck showed by the intertwining muscles that defined his whole body, he was handsome despite of how bad I wanted to deny it.

He had tousled dark brown hair which was thick and lustrous.His eyes were a mesmerising deep ocean blue and had thick eyebrows that slopped downwards in a serious frown.Strong arms,bold thighs,a firm broad chest and I bet inside that expensive armani suit he was wearing was a torned body with packs.

The clearing of the throat snapped me out of my stare, I yelped at being caught staring.

"Like what you see? Anyways.I expected that. You should watch where you walk, it's a public road and not your mother's place"he spat through gritted teeth,his forehead creasing as he looked my way. His voice was laced with so much venom that took me a back. This guy isn't serious. Wait … .I thought I was the victim here. That totally rebooted me from the trance I was in. How dare he?!

"Look here you..you douche, you almost killed me there and you are the one pretending to be the victim! You should watch where you are going. If you don't know mister this is a pedestrians lane. If you can't follow road rules, don't drive! " I scoffed, throwing daggers his way but this only made him angrier just by the way he clenched and unclenched his fist.

This world will be one better place without such careless drivers.

"Talking with a rude guy like you is just as useful as a chocolate teapot."I insulted getting numerous gasps from the crowd. Well wasn't that a beautiful come back.

"You clearly don't know me lady. Second, you have a foul mouth. I am wasting my precious time talking to a beggar like you. "

Did he just insult me?

" Oh you foo-"

I look over to the city clock behind him. I gasp on seeing the clock arm that being the glorious moment I got to realize that I was a mere employee and not the boss.

"Oh no, I am late!"I shout running off the road as I hear him yell but ignore him not looking back.

"Hope to never see you! Free advise, watch where you walk if you don't want to end up dead ."those were the last words I heard before taking a turn.

He is still persistent on giving me such a stupid advise when he is clearly the one at fault here.

I never want to see his ugly face again either.

Zayn.

I was in my car from LA heading to a conference meeting in New York when I nearly knocked down a girl crossing the road, but luckily caught the brakes on time.

"Shit!"I curse , releasing the breath I was holding ,my hands still firm on the steering wheel.

However,on looking at her, I appreciated her beauty and curves. That was a normal thing to do right?

She had rapture-brown eyes,puffy heart shaped pouting lips,her black ebony hair tied up in a loose messy bun with some curls touching her forehead. Her voice, sugary angelic voice that was pleasant to hear but she just had to ruin it with her foul language.

Her crescent shaped eyebrows inclined slightly as she stared down at me.

She had this hour glass shaped body with a thin waistline that could fit perfectly on my hand.

"Who will you sue? Me...you might be joking darling." I scoff and I am not at all surprised when I catch her staring at me.I don't blame her though,no one can resist my looks.

She was beautiful and as odd as it may sound,she managed to move something inside me. I hated this feeling. I despised her for making me feel even the slightest little bit of emotion.

They are all like that, just like her. Innocent face, beautiful but gold diggers and selfish. Wolves in sheep's clothing.

She didn't know who I was. That amused me,a total hurt to my precious ego.

Everyone knew who I was and no one would dare talk to me in such a foul way.

She was feisty, strong and admirable.She kept on cursing and ranting about how young she was going to die.She managed to attract a huge crowd. My hands were itchy , wanting to satisfy themselves by just a touch of her skin but withdraws from the thought.

She glances at something behind me and gasps.

"Oh no ,I am late!"she shouts running towards the street, leaving me feeling empty and cold.It's just a silly girl, ill mannered and I was getting late for the meeting.

I however was not looking forward to attending it,my father being the one that pushed me towards it, taking it as something to distract me from the reality of my life. My son...

"Hope to never see you!!!!" I shouted knowing well that I wouldn't since I never stayed in New York. I look at her retreating back, watching as she disappeared. I enter inside my car, the crowd that she had created had by now dispersed.

I shake my head and catch the steering of the car tightly. I sigh as my eyes wonder to the photo in front of me that brought a painful sting in my heart, remembering someone that I lost.

"Levi. Where are you son?" I trail my fingers on the photo ,a horn bringing me out of the trance.

" Get out of the way!"someone shouted from the car behind me making me start off the engine and drive off.